UNIKL HOPING FOR DUTCH DELIGHT
Hertzberger aims to upstage favourites KLHC
KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) will have the advantage of having played in many finals over the years, while Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) will appear in their first today.
Both the teams will battle for the TNB Cup at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil at 8.30pm, and Dutch national Jeroen Hertzberger could be the trump card for UniKL's maiden success.
The university side have been playing in the MHL since 2009, but have yet to win a single medal. They also made their maiden final this season.
In contrast, KLHC won the Charity Shield as well as the Alagendra Cup this year and will be gunning for their third.
KLHC have only lost the League title to Terengganu Hockey Team.
KLHC drew 3-3 and then beat UniKL 3-1 in the two-leg League this season.
Hertzberger, part of the Dutch national team at the 2007 Champions Trophy in Kuala Lumpur where the Netherlands won bronze, has scored 12 goals and is only behind Argentinian Gonzalo Peillat with 15 goals for THT.
And in the final, Hertzberger is not after self glory but rather for team success.
He is not too concerned about the race for the top scorer award in the Malaysian Hockey League, rather he wants UniKL to win the TNB Cup.
“Individual honours do not matter to me but it’s the trophy that we want as a team,” said Hertzberger when met at the Tengku Abdullah Stadium, home of UniKL.
He is going to be heavily marked in the final, but that does not worry him at all.
“They (KLHC) can even put two defenders to mark me out of the game but I know how to handle that kind of situation,” said the Dutchman.
He believes that the team, who show determination and desire, will win the TNB Cup today.
“And I strongly believe that team is UniKL,” said Hertzberger.
TODAY — TNB Cup, Thirdfourth: Tenaga Nasional v Terengganu Hockey Team (6pm); Final: Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club v Universiti Kuala Lumpur (8.30pm).
Both matches at the National Stadium Pitch II.